New York Giants

2005 Stats

2005 Season Summary

The New York Giants entered the 2005 season coming off TWO 2004 seasons. The Giants started off the 2004 season 5-2 both SU and ATS before losing their next two games, which caused head coach Tom Coughlin to put up the white flag and bench veteran free agent acquisition quarterback Kurt Warner for number one draft choice Eli Manning. Manning had a tough baptism under fire but ended on a promising note when he engineered a game winning two-minute drill to lead the Giants over the Cowboys in the season finale, which had everyone anticipating better things to come for Big Blue in 2005.

By the end of the 2004 season there were rumblings in the media about a player mutiny against control freak Coughlin but he was to return in 2005.

The offseason was generally filled with good vibes about Manning and Warner departed for Arizona . The Giants were touted as a leading contender in the NFC East after consensus favorite Philadelphia and were near certain to contend for the wild card.

In 2000-2004 the Giants had covered just 7 of 21 preseason games ATS and were a weak 1-3 both SU and ATS in their first “ Camp Coughlin .” Their preseason opener was at Cleveland against a Browns club that wanted to get off to a positive start for rookie head coach Romeo Crennel. Cleveland was a 60% ATS play in home preseason action the previous 5 summers and the trends held firm in a 17-14 Cleveland win.

The Giants came home to host Carolina and as 3-point home dogs got the win and cover 27-21. Next came the one preseason game that matters in New York , the matchup against the Jets, who were also a notoriously poor preseason bet through the years. The Jets were installed as hefty 6.5-point chalks and the Giants got the upset and cash with a 15-14 win. The Giants completely flipped their previous preseason form around by finishing 3-1 both SU and ATS with a 27-3 win at New England .

Another hot start

The Giants entered the regular season feeling good about their preseason and the continued good development of Manning. The regular season opener was an intriguing matchup against the Arizona Cardinals and Warner, who would certainly seem to be out for revenge against the team and coach that benched him in the midst of a playoff drive the previous year. The Cardinals, despite being perennial losers, were being touted as the “surprise” team in the NFL for 2005 and were a popular choice amongst many members of the betting public, which made the Giants a bargain 3-point chalk that easily got the cash in a 42-19 win.

Next the New York bias of the Almighty NFL was revealed when they moved the New Orleans Saints home opener to Giants Stadium due to Hurricane Katrina. There were other more friendly venues available to the Saints but the NFL told them to kiss off, and ran a Hurricane relief telethon for this first game of a Monday Night doubleheader while pontificating on commercials during the broadcast about “compassion.” The Giants won this road, err, home game 27-10 as 3.5 road, err, home favorites. Hey, at least the brilliant brains of the NFL had the Saints wear their home uniforms and painted the end zones with their name!!!

The Giants next traveled to San Diego to face a desperate 0-2 Charger team on Sunday Night football. The word was out on the streets of Vegas and on chat boards about a maximum Charger effort and the public was right this time in betting San Diego up to –7 as they took the game 45-23. The Giants enjoyed a nice rebound the next week, however, as bargain 3.5-home chalks against St. Louis in a 44-24 win to enter the bye week at 3-1 both SU and ATS. The Giants were off to another hot start but the question was whether they could maintain it or collapse like 2004.

Another 3 out of 4

A division showdown at Dallas followed the bye and the Giants were just a 3-point dog, losing 13-16 in a push. The resurgent Denver Broncos visited Giants Stadium next and New York was a 2.5-point home chalk, winning 24-23 as Denver got the cash.

The Washington Redskins came calling next to Giants Stadium and New York was a relative bargain as a 1-point chalk as the Redskins were struggling on offense and had lost 2 of their previous 3 games. New York blew out the Skins 36-0 and then traveled to San Francisco to face the rebuilding 49ers as expensive 11.5-point chalks. The Giants rewarded their gutsy backers with a 24-6 win and cover. It was another 3 out of 4 SU for the Giants who stood at 6-2 SU and 5-2-1 ATS at the midway point of the season.

A roller coaster ride

The season's second half began at home against the scandal ridden and struggling Minnesota Vikings. New York was bet up to a 9-point chalk as the Vikings were written off by nearly everyone in the general public and the NFL talking heads, which is why Minnesota was SU 24-21.

The Giants got off the mat to defeat the struggling but injury riddled NFC champs, Philadelphia , 27-17 as 7-point chalks. Next was a trip to Seattle to face the hot Seahawks, who were installed as 5-point chalks. Giant kicker Jay Feely had a horrible day and kicked away certain victory in a 21-24 loss that did pay Giant backers.

Next was a revenge match at home versus Dallas . This time the Giants were 3-point chalks and they showed good resilience in a 17-10 win to gain the inside track for the division title. A roller coaster ride ended on a high note as the Giants entered the home stretch.

A strong finish

New York opened the season's final quarter at Philadelphia as a stunning 9-point chalk. The Eagles were wiped out but still had pride and proved to be a bargain, in a 26-23 Giant win that paid Eagle backers. A national TV showdown with contending Kansas City was next as the Giants won and covered 27-17 as 2.5-point chalks. Next was a rematch at Washington against a suddenly hot Redskin team that was a 3.5-point chalk. The Skins won 35-20 forcing the Giants into a must win at Oakland the following week if they were to take the division and gain home field for the first round of the playoffs. New York , as is often the case with “must win” teams, was bet up to –7.5 and eked out a 30-21 cover in a strong finish to the season.

The Giants faced the more playoff experienced Panthers and were shutout as 3-point chalks 0-23 to exit the post season.